Henry r



(No Model.)

H. R. 'GASSEL.

APPARATUS r011 m smrnc'rme SHIPS OR OTHER STRUGTUREIS; No. 569,173.

Patented Oct.v 13, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()EEICE'.

HENRY R. CASSEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR DI SINFEGTING SHIPS OR OTHER STRUCTURES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,173, dated October13, 1896.

Application filed J 1111a 29, 1894. Serial No. 516,072. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY R. CAssEL, a citizen of the United States,residing in New York city, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forDisinfecting Ships or other Structures, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to disinfecting ships or buildings.

The invention is carried out by electrolytically producing adisinfecting fluid and distributing it to various parts of the structurein which the process is applied and providing at various points wheredisinfection may be needed means for liberating the fluid and flushingor otherwise treating the surfaces to be disinfected. The fluid fromwhich I prefer to produce the disinfectant is a solution containingchlorid of sodium. In the process as applied on-shipboard the salt waterof the ocean may be pumped into a supply-tank which supplies the vesselwith salt water for cleaning purposes and which is connected to thedecomposing tank or vat in which the disinfecting fluid is developed.The decomposing-tank is provided with means for maintaining itcontinuously full and contains a series of anodes and cathodes throughwhich a sufliciently-stron g current to decompose the salt water in thequantities desired is led. The primary action of the electrolyticdecomposition is to liberate chlorin at the anode, and by secondaryreaction hypochlorites are formed, which, together with the free chlorintaken into solution by the water, forms a most powerful oxidizing agentand an excellent disinfectant. The distributing-pipes by which thedisinfecting fluid generated in the decomposing-tank is carried to thediflerent points of service and the several valves and floatscontrolling the valves, as well as the flush-tanks, are preferably linedor coated with some suitable material capable of resisting the action ofchlorin, such, for example, as pitch, lead, rubber, porcelain, &c.Throughout the structure in which the plant is located, and at thevarious points where disinfection may be required, cocks, valves, ornozzles are located for withdrawing the disinfecting solution from thedistributing system and spraying or otherwise applying it to the pointsto be disinfected. At certain points where continuous disinfection isdesirable the disinfecting fluid may be permitted to flow or dropcontinuously, as, for

example, in ships, where it is desired to counteract the foul andunwholesome odors arising, for example, from the bilge-water. At pointswhere occasional disinfection only is required the cooks and valveswhich permit the application of the disinfecting fluid may be arrangedto be manually or automatically operated periodically.

In carrying out my invention I provide a tank of suitable size,preferably made of iron and lined or coated with a compound of pitch orother suitable material capable of resisting the action of the productsof decomposition. Where the apparatus is employed on shipboard, the tankis supplied with a water-tight cover, which should be screwed orotherwise fastened down to prevent the solution to be decomposed fromdisplacement by the rolling of the ship. Through this cover and reachingalmost to the bottom of the tank are arranged a number of anodes andcathodes, preferably made of retort-carbon or plumbago. The upper endsof the electrodes protrude through the cover to enable electricalconnections to be made for leading through the anodes and cathodes acurrent from a suitable electrical source, preferably a direct-currentdynamo-electric machine. This provision becomes highly important fromthe tendency of the metallic connections to corrode,

wood saturated with pitch or other suitable compound to steady theelectrodes and prevent their displacement and fracture by the rolling ofthe ship.

Where the system is applied on passenger vessels which are equipped witha reservoir of salt water for cleaning purposes c0nnecting with a pipesystem leading to the various decks and floors of the ship, thedecomposingtank may be supplied from the reservoir and have anegress-pipe communicating with the distribution-pipe. Means are alsoprovided for regulating the quantity of outflow of disinfecting fiuid,which, in entering the distributing-pipe, will mix with the waterflowing from the reservoir and thus be carried to the various portionsof the vessel.

The several features of novelty of the invention will be moreparticularly hereinafter described, and will be definitely indicated inthe claims appended to this specification.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates the invention, is shown asectional elevation of a ship equipped with my system.

1 represents a reservoir into which salt water is pumped and from whichit may be distributed to the various parts of the ship by adistributing-pipe system 2 2 2 &c. From the reservoir leads a feed-pipe3, provided with a regulating-cock, the pipe communicatin g with thedecomposing-tank 4. This tank is provided with a water-tight cover,through which project the terminals of a series of anodes and cathodes 55, which are connected in multiple with the supply-terminals (marked andleading to a suitable source of electric energy. The electrodes arepreferably formed of gas-retort carbon and have their lower edgesanchored against displacement. This may be accomplished by embeddingthem in strips of wood or vulcanite, or in any other suitable insulatingmaterial, or by placing them in frame 12-, provided with notches orgrooves to receive the edges of the electrodes.

The decomposing-tank is preferably provided at its upper end with anauxiliary tank or compartment 6, with which the inductionpipe 3 and theoverflow-pipe 7 communicate, and a partition is placed between theauxiliary and main tank, having a contracted feedopening for supply ofwater to the main tank 4, as shown in the drawing. By the employment ofthis auxiliary compartment the disinfecting fluid developed byelectrolysis is not wasted, for the reason that an excess of supply ofwater when the tank is filled flows off through the pipe 7 withoutmixing with the chlorinated water produced by decomposition.

At or near the bottom of the decomposingtank 4 is an eduction-pipe 8,provided with a controlling-valve and leading to the distributin gsystem 2. By a relative adjustment of the valves controlling the egressof the chlorinated water and the valve 9 of a pipe which connects tank 1with pipe 2 the water disand spray or drip nozzles may be suitably l'o-7 cated for controlling or regulating the application of the liquid.

For example, at 10 is shown a flush-tank for flushing a system ofwater-closets, as indicated, and the admission of flush-water by theoperation of the valve will also produce disinfection, for the reasonthat such water j f is charged with the disinfecting fluid. S0 at 11,where urinals are shown, the chlorinated water may be allowed to dripcontinuously. At 12 is shown a supply-reservoir from which water forwashing the floor of the steer- 1 age or other parts of the ship maybesupplied.

Similar provisions may be adopted on the decks and other parts of thevessel.

At 13 is a spray-pipe, controlled by a cook 14:, by which thedisinfecting fluid maybe mixed with the bilge-water in the hold.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. An apparatus for disinfecting ships comprising a reservoir, anelectrolytic tank connecting therewith by a feed-pipe, adistributing-pipe and a pair of branch pipes connecting both thereservoir and the electrolytic tank with the distributing-pipe.

2. The combination of an electrolytic tank having a raised compartmentwith an open partition, as described, a feed-pipe, a (linetributing-pipe, and branch pipes connecting the compartment and thelower end of the tank, respectively,with the distributing-pipe.

8. An apparatus for disinfecting ships co'mprising a reservoir-for saltwater, a tank connected therewith and containing anodes and cathodes forelectrolytic decomposition, a pipe distributing system for leading thewater from the reservoir to different parts of the ship, a ductestablishing communication be i tween the decomposing-tank and said pipesystem, and a valve for regulating the flow of disinfecting fluidthrough said duct.

In testimony whereof I have'hereunto subscribed my name this 27th day ofJune, A. I).

HENRY R. CASSEL.

Vitnesses RoBT. H. READ, CHARLES M. CATLIN.

